Moores: No Harm in our treatment

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Durham fast bowler could have been operated on nearly a month ago when he was first diagnosed as having hernia problems but, instead of undergoing surgery immediately, England's medical staff decided to delay the operation.

The 28-year-old suffered a recurrence during Durham's championship match against Sussex last week and has undergone surgery today which is expected to rule him out for four to six weeks, but Moores, who is now expected to hand 21-year-old Leicestershire seamer Stuart Broad his debut in Thursday's opening Test, said: "I don't think it was a misjudgement."

He continued: "We've got a good medical team put together and when he did it first time we thought that might be it, but then they looked at it again and it settled down.

"It was felt there was a good chance he could manage it and if he had got through that would have been great.

"Apparently he bowled very well at the Oval for Durham and that was fine but then unfortunately he did it fielding, playing at Sussex, and that's something we're just going to have to take on the chin."

England's handling of the Harmison situation mirrors that of key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff five years ago, when he played on during the home series against India instead of having a hernia operation and ended up missing that winter's Ashes series because of the delay.

But Moores insisted the gamble this time was worthwhile, stressing: "Steve is one of those bowlers that needs to bowl so I think it was the right decision. We're disappointed because Steve was very keen to carry on playing and carry on bowling.

"He wanted to play again against Sussex because he wanted to be ready for this Test, which are all very positive signs and it's just disappointing that he's gone.

"But when you have something like this, once you've got fit you have six weeks of muscle wastage and you have to build that up before you start bowling again. We've got to take that now and it will provide an opportunity for someone else and we'll know a bit more about another bowler by the end of this Test."